§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether during March the United Kingdom Government asked the United States Government for their assistance in settling the dispute with Argentina on South Georgia; and, if so, on what date such a request was made;
(2) whether at any time during the exchanges between Argentina and Her Majesty's Government on the Falklands, Ministers informed Argentina that the consequence of invasion would be retaliation by armed force ; and, if so, in what terms such a warning was given;
(3)what were the contents of the letter sent by Mr. Costa Mendez, Foreign Minister of Argentina, to the then Foreign Secretary on 2 March; and what reply was sent;
(4) whether any indications were made to the Argentine Government through senior United States Government officials that the United Kingdom wished to continue to discuss a negotiated settlement on the Falkland Islands, immediately prior to invasion; and whether any such communication was made on Monday 1 March.
§ Mr. Rifkind:The issues raised fall within the terms of reference of the review being conducted by the Committee of Privy Councillors, chaired by Lord Franks, on the events leading up to the Argentine invasion on 2 April. Until the committee has reported, it would not be appropriate to give answers to such questions.